Combination step and scaffold shelf for ladders



Aug. 6, 1957 D. E. PETERSON COMBINATION STEP AND SCAF'FOLD SHELF FORLADDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1955 2725.2: 242.: Donald E.Pete2'a0n .HZZ,

Aug. 6, 1957 I 0. E. PETERSON 2,301,336

v COMBINATION STEP AND SCAFF OLD SHELF FOR LADDERS Filed Aug. 1, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 25251-275: Donald E. Petemson COMBINATION-"STEP ANDSCA-FFOLDSHELF FOR LADDERS Donald E. Peterson, Elgin, Ill. ApplicationAugust 1, 1955,,Serial No. 525,613

2 Claims. (Cl. 304-315) Thisinvention'relatesto-a ladder attachmentand'more particularly toa "step-and -scaifold "shelf for aladder.

In the use of a conventional ladder, a worker frequently must standfor-prolonged periods on a single "rung. This soon -causes-discomfortand fatigue asthe entire weight of the individual is carried by hisarches.

The 'present invention is intended to eliminate (this objectionablefeature by' providing a platform step havto provide a scaffold. A clamparrangement, *foldable to an out-of-the-way position, serves to holdeach end of the plank secured to the shelf on which it rests.

The shelf attachment is so constructed as to be applied on either sideof a sloping ladder. When attached to the rear of a ladder, a chainattachment acts as a hanger depending from a high rung of the ladder andeffects an increased safe load-carrying capacity.

An important object, then, of this invention is the provision of a shelfattachment arranged to be supported upon a sloping ladder on either sidethereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a removably lockedshelf attachment for a ladder.

Another and further object of the invention is the provision of a shelfattachment for a ladder which may form one end of a scaffold.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a shelfattachment having a retractable mechanism for locking in place an end ofa plank or other scaffold base.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a shelf attachmentwhich is simple and inexpensive in construction, thoroughly safe,reliable and efficient in operation, strong, durable, of maximumload-carrying capacity, and conveniently applicable to and removablefrom a ladder.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be moreapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention mountedon the front side of a tilted ladder;

Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figure 1, showing the device mounted onthe rear side of the tilted ladder;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view, in elevation, of the step andscaffold shelf;

Figure 4 is a bottom view, in elevation, of the shelf showing thefoldable scalfold clamp; and,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation,as seen when taken along a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4and showing the hook lock in operative position on a scaffold platform.

Referring now to the drawings, the step and scaffold Shelf of thisinvention is shown as being mounted on 2,801,886 "TRatented. Aug. .6, r1957 ICC Zak-ladder. 11. i Theladder consists. of a pair of side rails-.port member 14.- has.a .base leg "from'which asupport leg 16 extendsat.an..acute angle. T The upper or free .end of each-supportlegisformedinto ahook" 17 which isadapted. to engage. a rung13 of the ladder.

A. plat-form .18. ,is. secured .by welding,-bolts, or other suitablemeans to .the baselegs-JS, 15 ofilthe support members. A pair ofistopmembers,19,i19.are secured, preferably ..by .welding, to the underside.of, platform ".18. so

,as to. extend. laterally .frombpposite sides substantiallyintermediately thereof. It is to be understood, of course, .that a .barortubular member.extendingacross the width .of.theplatform.may-be-.used.in the,place of ,the stop :members previouslydefined.

--As,shOWn"..iu. Figure 1,.the.stepshelfisfshown as being applied to thefront side ofjthe .ladderll. "When soen- .gaged, .the hooks 17,.17embracea runglfi with .thestop members 19,. 19 each abuttingagainstranadjacent ladder rail. 12. 1..By. reasonof. the. angularity .of thesupportlegs .16, .16. inrelation to .thebaselegs 15,15 and, the weightof. the platform 18,. the. .shelf arrangement ;,generally is maintainedin the position shown. "In order that'the shelf attachment be secured tothe ladder to avoid inadvertent disengagement, there is provided a lockfor 'through the leg in alignment with the threaded opening of the nut.A thumb-screw 22 is threaded through the nut to extend through analigned opening 23 in the opposite leg or free end of the hook 17. Ifdesired, one or both of the aligned openings 21 and 23 may be threadedthereby eliminating the nut 20. The above-described mechanism serves tolock the hooks to the engaged rung.

In Figure 2 is shown the arrangement when the shelf is attached to therear side of the ladder 11. The arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2adapt themselves to the provision of a scaifold. When two ladders arearranged in laterally spaced relation with a shelf attached to each atthe same or nearly the same height, a plank 24 or other long platformresting on the spaced shelves forms a scalfold. The stop members 19, 19serve to hold the shelf platform shown in Figure 1 in substantiallyhorizontal position. This arrangment is not present when the shelfengages the opposite or rear side of the ladder as shown in Figure 2. Inorder to hold the shelf platform horizontal and provide additionalsafety, a hanger chain 25 is provided. The free ends of the chain eachhave a snap buckle 26. The chain extends under the platform 18 and upthrough spaced openings 27' and 28. The ends of the chain are eachpassed over an upper rung 13 and snapped into a chain link below therung.

To insure the locking of the plank 24 or other scaffold platform to eachshelf 10, there is provided a hook member 29. The hook member isslidably mounted in spaced bearings 30 and 31, welded or otherwisesecured to the underside of the platform 18 and so arranged as to locatethe hook substantially along the centerline of the platform. A coiledspring 32 embraces the free end of the hook member and abuts against acotter-pin 33 or like member. This spring normally retracts and holdsthe hook member in an out-of-the-way position, as shown in dotted linesin Figure 4. When the hook member is pulled forwardly and rotatedapproximately the spring pulls and holds the hook end over and againstthe plank 24. To insure against lateral movement, it is desired that theplank be of such a width as to engage the chain 25 along one side andthe angle bend 34, between the support legs 15 and 16, along its otherside. It is to be understood that the form of my invention,

herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example ofthe same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of myinvention, or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shelf device adapted when mounted on a tilted ladder, having a pairof side rails and a plurality of rungs, as the support for one end of ascaffold platform, comprising a pair of substantially parallel supportmembers each having legs arranged in angular relation, a hook at an endof each leg of a pair of legs on said support members for engagementover a rung of the ladder, a platform connected to the other pair oflegs of said support members and extending away from said firstmentioned pair of legs, and a hook member slidably connected to thebottom face of said platform between the support members and movableinto and out of retracted positions, said hook being movable intoengagement with one end of a scaffold platform to secure the scaffoldplatform on the shelf platform.

2. A shelf device adapted when mounted on a tilted ladder, having a pairof side rails and a plurality of rungs, as a support for one end of ascaffold platform, comprising a pair of spaced support membersterminating in hook portions for engagement over a rung of the ladder, a

'2,801,886. r r h shelf platform mounted on said members, a hook memberhaving a mounting shank, spaced bearings carried by the shelf platformon the underside thereof between the support members for slidablycarrying said shank, an abutment member on said shank adjacent the freeend thereof, and a. coiled spring embracing said shank between saidabutment member and the next adjacent shank bearing, said hook memberbeing movable out of a normally retracted position under said shelfplatform to an extended position with the hook engaged over the side andmargin thereof along the top of a scaffold platform resting on the shelfplatform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS328,999 Ballmann Oct. 27, 1885 567,755 Stillman Sept. 15, 1896 960,565Levander June 7, 1910 1,045,099 Walker Nov. 19, 19 12 1,352,914Plasclascovite Sept. 14, 1920 1,450,312 Stolworthy -2 Apr. 3, 19231,487,243 Jackson Mar. 18, 1924 2,080,015 Sneddon May 11, 1937 2,297,883Glover Oct. 6, 1942 2,376,529 Yarmolowich May 22, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS127,182 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1928

